CENTURION: Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen steered England towards safety with a century partnership on the fifth and final day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Sunday.

England, set 364 to win, were 169 for three at tea.

Trott, who came to the wicket after the dismissal of nightwatchman James Anderson in the third over of the day, was unbeaten on 53 after facing 148 balls.

Pietersen was more aggressive in making 80 not out off 136 deliveries but the batsmen showed no serious intention of trying to chase down an unrealistic victory target. The pair had added 142 for the fourth wicket.

South African hopes were raised early in the day when Anderson gloved Friedel de Wet down the legside to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Alastair Cook defended resolutely for 79 minutes and 56 balls, scoring 12 runs, before he too was caught off a glove, when a ball from left-arm spinner Paul Harris went to Graeme Smith at leg gully off his glove and pad.

But Trott and Pietersen dug in on a pitch which did not provide as much unpredictable bounce as it had on the previous two days.

Only one delivery truly misbehaved, a ball from De Wet which shot through low and trapped Pietersen, on 39, plumb in front of his stumps. But umpire Steve Davis no-balled De Wet for overstepping.

When he was on 31 Trott played a ball from Harris onto his boot and it was caught by Smith at a wide slip.

The umpires sought a review and Trott was given not out when it showed the ball had made contact with the ground before bouncing to Smith. In the same over Pietersen, on 57, pushed a ball from Harris dangerously close to Hashim Amla at short leg.

In virtually the only other alarm for England, Morne Morkel had a loud shout for leg before against Trott turned down by Davis when the batsman was on 45. After a discussion the South Africans decided not to call for a television review and replays showed the ball would have missed leg stump.

With the other bowlers unable to break through, Jacques Kallis came into the attack shortly before tea.

He had said before the match he did not expect to bowl because he was recovering from a rib injury. He bowled three unthreatening overs.